Solid-state transformation in nanocrystalline Ti induced by ball milling

In the current study, we report for the first time a new Ti rhombohedral (trigonal) structure induced by HEBM and subsequent sintering. During ball milling of Ti powder, solid-state transformation does not only depend on the grain refinement but also on the successful deformation of the nano-sized crystallites due to high energy ball impacts. Thermal stability of Ti-nanocrystalline in FCC allotrope was investigated. Upon sintering, the unstable FCC restored back to the rhombohedral phase rather than to HCP. The appearance of HCP Ti after sintering could suggest that prolonged milling leads to dispersion of hard particles (HCP) into more ductile particles belonging to allotropic phases, and hence possibility of resurfacing on sintering.